In light of Brexit negotiations Sturgeon travels to Reykjavik in profile boosting trip for Scotland
FIRST MINISTER Nicola Sturgeon will address a meeting of the Arctic Circle between October 7 and 9 alongside multiple dignitaries and state leaders including the secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon.
She will give a key note speech at the assembly in the Harpa conference centre in Reykjavik where over 400 speakers will discuss over 90 topics and participate in business and environmental workshops.
Today the first minister also gave evidence to a Scottish parliament committee on the effects of Brexit for Scotland and the country's place in europe and the wider world.
"The First Minister will give a keynote speech discussing climate change and Scotland’s interest in co-operating on common issues with Arctic Circle nations."
Commenting on the trip to CommonSpace, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The First Minister was invited to speak at the Arctic Circle Assembly by former President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímssonm following the Paris Climate Change talks and was delighted to accept.
"The First Minister will give a keynote speech discussing climate change and Scotland’s interest in co-operating on common issues with Arctic Circle nations."
The Arctic Circle organisation creates a space for international dialogue and cooperation on the issues that effect the Arctic, which has become an important area given newly discovered mineral and oil deposits.
The Circle invites participation from governments, corporations, universities, thinktanks, environmental groups, indigenous communities, and campaigners to discuss strategic, commercial and political issues and is nonprofit and nonpartisan.
Iceland traditionally hosts the gathering, but even nations such as China and the United Arab Emirates, which are not close to the region still send delegates and experts in areas as wide ranging as shipping, green technology, engineering and archeological academia.
A major source of tension in recent decades has been the Arctic border shared between the US and Russia and each has experienced conflicts of interest over defence and resource exploration.
Contention has risen because of a proposed plan by the US to potentially station ballistic missile systems in the Arctic, along with aggressive oil exploration by Russia, Norway, Denmark, Canada and the US.
"Scotland has shared interests with our geographical neighbours in the North Atlantic, such as Iceland and Norway, and a common interest in the Arctic and High North."
SNP figures such as Angus Robertson have long suggested that Scotland make forays on the international stage through cooperation in Nordic associations and connections to organisations such as the Arctic Council.
In fact in the independence white paper, Scotland’s Future, the Scottish Government details its "cornerstone" international commitments, stating Scotland would be "an active member of the European Union with strong links to the Nordic countries and the Arctic".
The paper went on to say that the Scottish Government "intends that Scotland will also seek a closer relationship with the Nordic Council of ministers. Scotland has shared interests with our geographical neighbours in the North Atlantic, such as Iceland and Norway, and a common interest in the Arctic and High North".
Picture courtesy of Arctic Circle
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